Frances Biggest Strike Yet

Frances Biggest Strike Yet, Gian Sexsmith

            France is currently experiencing huge union strikes, with some workers off the job for more than fifteen days already.  Many of these workers are striking because they are trying to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. The people of France are striking because of the government pension reforms; this is going to be the third strike in one month for France. These are the biggest strikes that have happened “Police say Tuesday's protests in Paris are the biggest so far, estimating a turnout of 330,000.” According to the BBC.. Due to all the different jobs that are striking it is causing complete chaos for France.  Airline flights are being cancelled; one out of three are being cancelled from the Charles de Gaulle Airport. In Paris the Eifel Tower was shut down because there weren’t enough staff to operate it. The French oil industry is taking huge blows with, “Workers at the Fos-Lavera oil port in southern France are striking for a 15th day, forcing up diesel prices in Europe. Diesel supplies have run out on Corsica”. According to the BBC There are 56 petrol tankers and 29 cargo ships stranded outside Fos- Lavera port. A cement worker in the central town of Angouleme told some French press "I'm prepared to extend the strike. I started working at 17 and now I'm 50 and I'm starting to get really fed up with it." According to the BBC. People are not ok with the pension reforms and are going to continue to strike until they are revoked.